Nevada doesn't do "normal" elections. We're the state of 24-hour neon, desert heat, and a voter base that’s about as predictable as a heater at a blackjack table. For years, the Silver State was the "blue wall" of the West. If you wanted to win the White House, you basically had to pray Harry Reid’s legendary "Political Machine" didn't steamroll your candidate. But on November 5, 2024, that machine hit a serious snag.
Honestly, the nevada 2024 election results weren't just a win for one side; they were a total vibe shift. Donald Trump didn't just win; he became the first Republican to carry the state in twenty years. The last guy to do that was George W. Bush in 2004. Think about how long ago that was. Most of the people voting for the first time this year weren't even born yet.
Breaking Down the Nevada 2024 Election Results
The numbers tell a story of a state that is deeply divided but leaning toward change. Donald Trump secured 50.6% of the vote, while Kamala Harris trailed with 47.5%. That's a gap of about 46,000 votes. In a state where elections are often decided by the skin of your teeth, that's a significant margin.
What's wild is that Harris still won Clark County (Las Vegas) and Washoe County (Reno). Usually, if a Democrat wins those two, they cruise to victory. Not this time. Trump absolutely demolished the "rural" vote—we're talking 70% to 80% margins in places like Elko and Lincoln counties. But the real story is how much he chipped away at the urban lead. In Clark County, Harris only won by about 3 points. In 2020, Biden won it by 9. You do the math.
The Senate Race: A Different Story
Here's where things get kinda weird. While Trump was painting the state red, Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen managed to keep her seat. She fended off Republican challenger Sam Brown in a race that was way closer than many experts predicted.
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- Jacky Rosen (D): 47.9%
- Sam Brown (R): 46.2%
Rosen basically survived because of "split-ticket" voters. These are the folks who walked into the booth, checked the box for Trump, and then decided they actually liked Rosen's moderate approach or her focus on local issues like solar energy and healthcare. She overperformed Harris by nearly 5 percentage points. That is a massive gap in modern politics.
Why the Polls Got It (Kinda) Right and (Kinda) Wrong
Everyone loves to hate on pollsters. Before the election, most averages showed a dead heat, with Trump leading by maybe 0.7%. In reality, he won by 3.1%. Why the disconnect?
The answer is mostly "non-partisans." Nevada has a massive chunk of voters—about 42%—who aren't registered as Democrats or Republicans. These people are notoriously hard to reach. They don't pick up the phone for unknown numbers, and they don't care about partisan rhetoric. They care about the fact that the price of eggs in North Las Vegas is still too high and rent in Henderson has skyrocketed.
The Latino Vote Shift
You can't talk about the nevada 2024 election results without mentioning Latino voters. For decades, the Democratic strategy was: "Win the Latino vote, win the state." That formula is breaking. Trump made huge gains with Latino men, specifically focusing on economic "kitchen table" issues. When the culinary union—a powerhouse in Vegas—isn't enough to deliver a blowout margin, you know the ground is shifting.
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Ballot Measures: The People Have Their Say
The candidates weren't the only ones on the ballot. Nevadans had to weigh in on some pretty heavy stuff.
Question 6 (Abortion Rights): This passed in a landslide, with about 64% of voters saying "yes" to enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. But because of Nevada's quirky laws, they have to vote on it again in 2026 for it to become permanent. It’s like a two-step authentication process for the constitution.
Question 7 (Voter ID): This one was even more popular. Over 73% of voters approved a measure requiring photo ID to vote in person. Even in a "blue-leaning" year for policy, Nevadans showed a very pragmatic, conservative streak regarding election security.
Question 3 (Ranked Choice Voting): This was the big loser of the night. It would have introduced open primaries and ranked-choice voting. Both parties hated it. The voters seemingly agreed, as it failed with about 54% voting "no." People basically said, "This is too confusing, let's keep it simple."
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The "None of These Candidates" Factor
Nevada is the only state with a "None of These Candidates" option. It’s the ultimate "I’m annoyed with everyone" button. In the Senate race, over 2.5% of people chose this option. In a race decided by 1.7%, those "protest" votes actually matter. If those voters had sucked it up and picked Sam Brown, Jacky Rosen might be looking for a new job right now.
What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
The 2024 cycle proved that Nevada is no longer a "reliable" anything. It’s a true battleground. Republicans have found a way to talk to working-class voters in Vegas that actually resonates. Meanwhile, Democrats still have a stronghold on the state legislature, but they lost their "supermajority" power. This means Republican Governor Joe Lombardo keeps his veto pen, which basically guarantees two years of political gridlock in Carson City.
Key Takeaways for Voters
If you're looking at these results and wondering what's next, keep an eye on these specific shifts:
- Watch the 2026 Governor's Race: Lombardo will be up for re-election, and these 2024 numbers suggest he's in a very strong position.
- The Abortion Vote Part II: Expect another massive ad blitz in 2026 as Question 6 comes back for its final approval.
- Non-Partisan Growth: If you aren't registered with a party, you are now the most important person in Nevada politics. Candidates will be tripping over themselves to win you over.
The best thing you can do now is stay engaged with local Nevada Independent or Review-Journal reporting to see how these newly elected officials actually vote. National trends are one thing, but in Nevada, the local issues—water rights, mining, and the "No Tax on Tips" promise—are what will actually shape the next four years.
Check your voter registration status on the Nevada Secretary of State website to ensure you're ready for the 2026 primary cycle. Download the 2024 certified results report if you want to see exactly how your specific precinct voted compared to the rest of the state.